The meeting of military chiefs of general staff of the DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, which ended in Lubumbashi, Katanga province on 2 October, features prominently in today's Kinshasa newspapers.

According to La Tempête des Tropiques, the Lubumbashi meeting decided to organise a « manhunt for armed men loyal to deposed Congolese general Laurent Nkunda, as well as for [DRC-based] Rwandan Hutu combatants of the [rebel] Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda".

For that purpose, "a precise plan will soon be implemented on the ground," Le Phare says.

Meanwhile, La Tempête des Tropiques notes, "the situation [on the ground] remains tense". According to this paper, tension persists despite the fact that "Nkunda has called for negotiations" and even after Rwandan army chief of staff James Kabarebe said "his country has not been supporting Laurent Nkunda".

Rwanda is reported as "rank[ing] first worldwide in terms of military spending," writes Le Palmarès, referring to a recent CIA report.

This report reveals that Rwanda devoted, "in 2006, 13.3 percent of GDP to military expenditures," according to Le Palmarès.

While for the same year, military allocations in neighbouring countries stood at "5.9 % of GDP for Burundi, 2.4% for Uganda and 2.1% for the DRC," Le Palmarès notes.

In other news, Le Palmarès announces President Joseph Kabila's coming trip to Washington for "a 26 October visit". According to this paper, the visit will give the Congolese leader an opportunity "to confer lengthily with President Georges Bush".

In Kinshasa, meanwhile, this Wednesday, 3 October, will mark "the opening of the National Forum on Decentralization," L'Observateur reports.

The aim of this forum is "to enhance dialogue and allow deep reflection on the new decentralisation policy for years to come...," according to L'Observateur.